Multigenre Research Project

Definition

A multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is not an uninterrupted, expository monolog nor a seamless narrative. A multigenre paper is composed of many genres and subgenres, each piece self-contained, making a point of its own, yet connected to other pieces by theme and content and sometimes by repeated language, images, and genres. A multigenre paper may also contain many voices, not just the author’s. The craft then–the challenge for the writer–is to make such a paper hang together as one unified whole.

-Tom Romano, Fearless Writing: Multigenre to Motivate and Inspire (2013), p. 8

For this assignment, we are replacing the word paper with project, as we imagine this to be much broader in scope. Your multigenre project will be a collection of pieces written in a variety of genres BY YOU! The pieces will be informed by your research on a particular person or event. Your project will be personal, creative, and unique. It can’t be copied from some other source. It involves you, as a writer, making conscious decisions about what information is important and how it should be presented to the reader.

What does a multigenre research project do?

  • Permits the author to highlight personal interests and special expertise.
  • Requires that diverse types of writing be generated for a theme.
  • Stimulates critical analysis and higher-level thinking skills.
  • Integrates factual information into a meaningful text versus copying or simple recall.
  • Creates coherence among the parts of a problem to be solved.
  • Requires a bibliography, footnotes, and careful documentation of sources.

Mack, N. (2002). The ins, outs, and in-betweens of multigenre writing. The English Journal, 92(2), 91-98.

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to develop content knowledge, learn how larger projects and performance assessments can be used in the classroom, and develop an understanding of how students feel when engaged in this kind of work.

Guidelines
For this project, you will select a topic in the Standards of Learning that strongly connects to Richmond or Virginia history. You will conduct research as if preparing to write a traditional research paper: collecting information and recording it, synthesizing the information, then presenting it through writing. However, instead of a single, extended prose paper, the multigenre research project will consist of a cohesive collection of pieces in various genres—poetry, advice columns, diary entries, letters, news articles, lists, artwork, graphics, etc.—all imaginative writing based on facts. This project will be contained in a book you make in the Book Arts Studio.

Genre examples may include, but are not limited to:

Your project will be composed of many genres and subgenres, each piece self-contained, making a point of its own, yet connected by theme or topic and sometimes by language, images, and content. Each genre entry should function on its own, as well as fit with the work as a whole. Each should also introduce new, relevant information.

Your project must include the following components.

  • An inviting cover.
  • A Title Page with your name, topic, and SOL (written out).
  • A Table of Contents that lists all pieces included in the project in the order they appear.
  • A “Dear Reader” letter that introduces the subject and provides any relevant information you think readers should know.
  • A minimum of 10 pieces in at least eight different genres, including written and visual forms and at least one map. When thinking about your genre choices, ask yourself the following questions: How well does the research come through in the entry? Does the genre seem appropriate? Does the entry effectively use images and text? How creative is the entry? Does the entry advance the story told in the project? (See list below for genre options.)
  • At least 1 primary source document, adapted and/or annotated.
  • A repetend in each component of the project to link the pieces in a way that will help the reader navigate the project. Think about the flow of your pieces from one to the next and how you can create a sense of unity within your project. A repetend can be a phrase, sentence, or image. It could be a running commentary before or after each genre piece.
  • A brief expository piece, 250-350 words, that provides a “textbook-like” overview of your topic.
  • Endnotes for each genre piece and repetend. Endnotes will provide information about the creation of each piece. See this link for using footnotes in APA format.
  • A reference list (APA format, 7th edition).

Critical Reflection Essay
Purpose: There is no doubt that quite a bit of thought and ingenuity went into the creation of your multigenre project! Now that you have a finished product, it is important to carefully reflect on two things: process and feelings. Taking the time to reflect on both will help you to make sense of and grow from this learning experience.

Directions: Write a critical reflection about your experiences with the multigenre project. Critical reflection is a culmination of your design process. It may require some intensive thinking that will challenge your ability to observe, question, evaluate, and apply personal experiences to your interpretation of the multigenre project. Consider the following bulleted points to guide your writing.

  • Describe the experience and process of designing your multigenre project.
  • What did you learn about writing in different genres as a way of inquiring into your topic and communicating what you know?
  • Describe what you consider to be the strongest part of your project and why and the part that presented you with the most challenges and why.
  • How would you score your final project and why?
  • Express your personal feelings about the overall value and worth of a multigenre project.

Download a copy of the Multigenre Project Rubric.